Oklahoma to Receive Federal Grant Funds to Modernize Food Benefits Program

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services will receive more than $700,000 in federal grant funds to improve client access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The funds, $784,400, will support the Oklahoma Access Project, a planned online system for SNAP clients to access and update their personal data. The federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services is Oklahoma’s share of more than $5 million in funds for states to simplify the SNAP application and eligibility systems and improve access to program benefits.

Oklahoma’s planned Web site’s features include: online access to self service prescreening for SNAP benefits eligibility; online application for service; review ongoing eligibility or review existing cases; give clients a confirmation that their application has been received; provide a verification checklist to the client that reduces processing time; provide better access for the public to access OKDHS services during working and non-working hours; and enable clients to report changes in household circumstances during non-working hours.

“The timing of this grant award is great because as we improve the efficiency of the work flow process in SNAP, it is not only a benefit to our clients, it is also a benefit to our staff,” said Kathie Wright, programs manager, OKDHS Family Support Services Division. “The SNAP rolls have increased each month for the past year and our staff is currently processing more than 750 new SNAP applications each working day.”

This year’s participation grant focused on modernizing and streamlining the application process and eligibility systems or measures to improve access by eligible households. In addition to Oklahoma, the other five grantees were: Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Michigan Department of Human Services, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the City of New York Human Resources Administration.

Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP helps ensure that people have access to healthy and nutritious food.

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